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Security

Submission + - CPS-3 Encryption Scheme Broken (exophase.com)

Submitted by
x3sphere
x3sphere writes: "It's taken awhile, ten years to be exact, but Andreas Naive has successfully managed to break the protection on Capcom's CPS-3 arcade system board. The CPS-3 powered less than a dozen arcade classics, including JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Red Earth, and Street Fighter III.

The security system of the CPS-3 was rather advanced for its time. Any tampering to the game's security cartridge would result in the decryption key being erased, thereby rendering the respective cartridge useless.

So, the decryption is broken, what does this all mean? In one word: Emulation. Now that the decryption task is done, the folks over at MAME have already started work on a CPS-3 emulator."
Google

Submission + - Google Custom Site Search may be hiding results (gidblog.com)

Submitted by
crystalattice
crystalattice writes: "Google's Custom Site Search appears to be less than useful for established sites. According to J de Silva's GIDBlog post, not all the pages related to a search query are being returned. From the article: "If I search Google for [site:gidforums.com auto add slashes], i.e. restricting the search to only my web site, GIDForums, I expect it to return this page, but according to Googles Custom Search Engine, that page doesnt even exist! Notice that its not listed at all; not filtered, and not even stuck inside their infamous supplemental results. But its an old page! In fact the page is very old over 4 years old, actually and Google indexed this page very soon after it was written, and even referred people to the page for at least a couple of years, or more. So why did they remove it? What happened?""
Patents

Submission + - Patent on method to develop synthetic life form. (bbc.co.uk)

Submitted by rupert0
rupert0 writes:
Scientists working to build a life form from scratch have applied to patent the broad method they plan to use to create their "synthetic organism". The J Craig Venter Institute's US patent application claims exclusive ownership of a set of essential genes and a synthetic "free-living organism that can grow and replicate" made using those genes.
Microsoft is already proposing a strategic merge. :P
Programming

Submission + - SCM wars, take two

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Which one is the best SCM in town? Are there any real alternatives to Subversion?

One week after posting about Linus and his speech on SCM, the folks at Codice Sofware, a start-up company developing from scratch a new version control system written in Mono, claim to have the best branch and merge mechanism compared to systems like Subversion, Clearcase and the like.

Which one is the best SCM for parallel development? Is really Subversion the one to go for or it is taking too long to evolve comparing to other systems?

I've tried Plastic SCM and it looks like a good option but, wouldn't it be better were it be Open Source? Which makes me think: is there any real opportunity for a start-up company targeting a complex business like SCM outside OSS? Is there a better way to reach the market than through open source?

According to Forrester Perforce and SVN are the leaders in the SCM marketplace, just targeting version control, and big players take on SCCM (Software Configuration and Change Management). But at the end of the day, which is the one dealing better with complex day-to-day problems like branching, merging, performance and so on?
Communications

Submission + - Fiber Backbone

Submitted by Abe460
Abe460 writes: I live in the sticks and cannot get broadband by any means other than satellite. If this is my only option then I guess I'm limited. I'm pretty sure I already know the answer, but I must ask. Is there any way to get service from a fiber backbone without going through one of their POP locations. The reason for this question is the almost 2000ft of fiber buried under my property belonging to Wiltel. Even if I was to donate some property to an isp company to put in some kind of switch close enough to serve the area I would consider. Life without broadband is almost too much to handle.
Portables

Submission + - Asus stuns Computex with $189 laptop (pcpro.co.uk)

Submitted by
slashthedot
slashthedot writes: "As if Intel's cheap laptop release last month wasn't enough, Asus sprang a surprise during Intel's Computex keynote today with the announcement of a $189 laptop.
The notebook uses a custom-written Linux operating system, measures roughly 120 x 100 x 30mm (WDH) and weighs only 900g, boots in 15 seconds from its solid-state hard disk. Asus chairman Jonney Shih claimed the 3ePC would be available in all areas of the world, not only developing nations.
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/114773/asus-stuns-comp utex-with-100-laptop.html"
Operating Systems

Submission + - Has Microsoft Gone Linux-Crazy? (askreamaor.com)

Submitted by
Rea Maor
Rea Maor writes: "First, Microsoft launched the famous "Get the Facts" advertising campaign. Back in 2004, Microsoft was sweating over Linux's surprising domination of the server market, so they decided to try to paint their Windows Server System as the more prudent choice. That campaign is still running.



Next in November of 2006 came the absolutely shattering news that Microsoft was enterring into a partnership with Novell, makers of the commercial Suse Linux distribution which they had acquired in 2003. The Linux community is still reeling in shock from that one, and the Windows community was even a little surprised. Amongst other things, this move prompted a re-write of the Linux license to GPL version 3, which amounts to saying "No more Linux-Microsoft partnerships". The feathers are still flying over that one.



Microsoft has continued to make noises to the effect that Linux violates a bunch of Microsoft's patents. But are they going to sue? No... they're just pointing out that they could sue if they really wanted to, but Linux distributions selling out to them could help them to decide they don't want to. The response to this has been mostly unanimous, with various Linux spokespeople saying "Put up or shut up!"



But no, not everyone is unafraid of the Big Bad Redmond Wolf: Xandros was the next one to run up and buy some protection action. The reaction has been as hot for Xandros as it was for Suse: Linux forums cried "Traitor!" and "Judas!" and said they'd never run Suse or Xandros again. Let it never be said that loyalty comes easy in the Linux world.



So a week doesn't even pass, and Microsoft hires a new "Director of Linux Interoperability". And the head they hunted is Tom Hanrahan, director of engineering at none other than the Linux Foundation. Hopefully I get this blogged before the next development.



This is all happening too fast and without enough explanation. It is becoming obvious that either Microsoft is saying "We can't beat them, so we'll join them.", or else they figure that all they have to do is keep buying Linux until there isn't any Linux left, then shut it all down for good at once.



The love-hate relationship that Microsoft has been showing Linux is kind of starting to remind people of that one psychotic girlfriend/boyfriend that everybody has to go through before they get enough experience to pick a winner. Microsoft blows hot one week and cold the next. Could it be that they simply have no idea how to deal with their chief competitor, so they are just acting at random?



Before anybody says "Maybe Microsoft wants to go into the Unix business themselves." — remember, they already tried that. Xenix was the Microsoft Unix, leveraged through them to eventually become SCO Unix. And we all know how that turned out, don't we?"
Microsoft

Submission + - Microsoft Finds Legal Defender in Justice Dept.

Submitted by Nrbelex
Nrbelex writes: The New York Times is reporting that the Bush administration has repeatedly defended Microsoft against charges of anticompetitive conduct, including a recent complaint by Google. 'Nearly a decade after the government began its landmark effort to break up Microsoft, the Bush administration has sharply changed course by repeatedly defending the company both in the United States and abroad against accusations of anticompetitive conduct, including the recent rejection of a complaint by Google.'
Communications

Submission + - Touchsensitive paper with built in speakers

Submitted by
The Bongo King
The Bongo King writes: "Swedish research scientists has made a prototype billboard of interactive paper with built in flat loudspeakers apparantly also made of paper. Maybe ads in you morning paper will speak back at you?

"The first generation of paper was for display, like books," says Mikael Gulliksson, a researcher at Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden, "the second for packaging, and the third for hygiene — we are investigating what the fourth might be."

New Scientist Tech: www.newscientisttech.com"
NASA

Submission + - NASA Chief says Global Warming "mostly politic

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes: MSNBC is reporting that the head of NASA, Michael Griffin "wishes he'd stayed out of debate on climate effects"' NASA administrator Michael Griffin said in the closed-door meeting Monday at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena that "unfortunately, this is an issue which has become far more political than technical, and it would have been well for me to have stayed out of it."'
Biotech

Submission + - Serious diseases genes revealed

Submitted by
gollum123
gollum123 writes: "A major advance in understanding the genetics behind several of the world's most common diseases has been reported ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6724369.stm ). The landmark Wellcome Trust study analysed DNA from the blood of 17,000 people to find genetic differences. They found new genetic variants for depression, Crohn's disease, coronary heart disease, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 and 2 diabetes. The Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC) involved 50 leading research groups analysing the DNA from 2,000 patients for each of the seven conditions and 3,000 healthy volunteers. One of the most exciting finds was a previously unknown gene common to type 1 diabetes and Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disorder, suggesting that they share similar biological pathways. There is also disease by disease data at the BBC ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6727043.stm )."
It's funny. Laugh.

Submission + - Just add water - students invent alcohol powder

Submitted by spamking
spamking writes:


AMSTERDAM (Reuters) — Dutch students have developed powdered alcohol which they say can be sold legally to minors.

The latest innovation in inebriation, called Booz2Go, is available in 20-gramme packets that cost 1-1.5 euros ($1.35-$2).
Link to story

I can hear it now . . . "honestly mom it's kool aid.
Software

Submission + - 30 Days with Windows Vista

Submitted by fatgadget
fatgadget writes: Its exactly 30 days since I installed Vista on my PC, I have to say I was a little nervous about doing it at first. I downloaded the Microsoft Vista Upgrade Advisor and ran it, everything seemed to go ok and the report showed only a few minor software issues, so I decided to go for it. I scoured the web for information on Vista after reading many articles and tips I decided to buy Vista Home Premium 32 Bit edition, I managed to get myself an OEM copy from Microdirect for about £74 including the VAT & Delivery. It arrived the next day, I had already backed up all my data, so I decided to do a clean install, I booted my PC, ran the interactive setup, formatted the PC's hard drive and began the install. It took about 30 minutes, I rebooted and was ready for the usual problems that you get with a fresh install of XP, I have to say I was more than a little surprised, all my hardware was there and everything seemed ok. Here's the spec of my PC, nothing spectacular:- Read the full story at www.gadgettastic.com
Robotics

Submission + - Battlefield 'Bear' robot to rescue fallen soldiers

Submitted by holy_calamity
holy_calamity writes: A Maryland firm is developing a remote-controlled robot to rescue injured or abducted soldiers, New Scientist reports. The Battlefield Extraction-Assist Robot (Bear) prototype is already capable of lifting more than 135 kilograms with one arm, and recently showed how it can climb up and down stairs with a human-size dummy in its arms. There are videos of it carrying a dummy while standing and kneeling.
Sony

Submission + - Sony to cut game workers in U.S.

Submitted by poffenvis
poffenvis writes: On the heels of recording a $1.8-billion annual loss in its game division, Sony Corp. on Wednesday announced layoffs at its U.S. PlayStation operations. Sony Computer Entertainment America would not disclose the number of workers affected. Company executives speaking on condition of anonymity said that as many as 50 people, or 3% of the 1,600 employees in its Foster City, Calif., office, would lose their jobs.

For rest of the article? click the link LA times article

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